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October 6, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

V/A: Putumayo Presents Music of the Andes

AndesVarious Artists:

Putumayo Presents: Music of the Andes

Putumayo World Music/Ode

Celebrating its 20th birthday the Putumayo label here returns to its South American roots with this collection, Music of the Andes. I love this one. Some wonderful, enchanting moods (Tibus Futuras’ Hijos del Viento) that transcend any western-appropriation notion of this as street-busking/nail-clinic music. You hear those evocative instruments – pan pipes and flutes – far away from cruddy backing tapes and rudimentary trills in exchange for pocket silver. You also hear the full range – across Argentina, Peru, Columbia, Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecudaor – music that brings to mind elements of opera (Dueto Nocturnal’s Caompanero) as well as tango, folk music, music handed down.

One thing I particularly love about his compilation is the brevity. Just over half-an-hour, often these comps offer too much of a good thing.

But it’s appropriate here to hear a version – more traditional – of El Condor Pasa (Pena) given that is the sound of the Andes in a lot of people’s minds; that is what gave people (the Simon & Garfunkel version) a clue to this sound – in a mainstream sense.
You get a lot of heart from this music, from these versions, from this compilation. I don’t always love the Exit Through The Giftshop version of music that Putumayo promotes – but when they get it right (as is the case here) they really get it right.

Posted in Blog, Reviews and tagged with Album Review, Andes, El Condor Pasa, Music of the Andes, Ode, Putumayo, Putumayo Presents, Simon & Garfunkel, South America, V/A, V/A: Putumayo Presents Music of the Andes, Various Artists, World Music. RSS 2.0 feed.
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Off The Tracks is the home of Sweetman Podcast, a weekly interview/chat-based pod. It's also home to my reviews across film, TV, music and books and some creative writing as well.

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